ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD
(Department of Gender and Women Studies)
WARNING
1. PLAGIARISM OR HIRING OF GHOST WRITER(S) FOR SOLVING THE
ASSIGNMENT(S) WILL DEBAR THE STUDENT FROM AWARD OF
DEGREE/CERTIFICATE, IF FOUND AT ANY STAGE.
2. SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS BORROWED OR STOLEN FROM
OTHER(S) AS ONE’S OWN WILL BE PENALIZED AS DEFINED IN
“AIOU PLAGIARISM POLICY”.
Course: Perspectives on Gender Studies (4653) Semester: Autumn, 2011
Level: M. Sc Total Marks: 100
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING ASSIGNMENT
Assignment is a take home test; you are free to use materials from internet, books and
course books. Please understand the question and write in your own words by arranging
your answer with an introduction, main discussion with sub topics and conclusion.
Copying from books, internet etc is not allowed. Typed assignments are not accepted. If
reference of other research is being quoted, it should be properly acknowledged.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR STUDENTS ATTENTION
In the following four assignments you have to write short essays after reading the
material provided in the Allied Study Material for this course. Student’s opinion and
comments on the theme are the most important aspect for the tutor while marks are being
allocated.
ASSIGNMENT No. 1
(Units: 1–4)
Q. 1 What is the importance of Women Studies discipline? What role it can play in
changing attitudes in the society? (Consult readings pages: 5-57) (20)
Q. 2 What factors influence on the gender stereotyping? Discuss in light of readings
2.3, 2.4 and 3.4. (20)
Q. 3 Is it true that knowledge construction is sexist and women are excluded from
knowledge production? Consult reading 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4. (20)
Q. 4 What is the connection of social movements and feminist movement in Europe?
Elaborate your answer with examples. (Reference reading 4.1 and 4.3) (20)
Q. 5 What is your understanding of patriarchy? What measures need to be taken to change
this misogynist stance of the society? (Consult Bhasin reading 4.2 also 4.7) (20)
ASSIGNMENT No. 2
(Units: 5–8)
Q. 1 Anne Oakley (Reading 6.1 & 6.2) argues about qualitative and quantitative
paradigms of research but at the end says, there are no easy answers for choosing
research methods when researching women experiences? Discuss what you
understand out of these readings? Reading 6.7 is also helpful to understand the
concepts. (20)
Q. 2 Define the following: (Consult reading 5.1, 6.3, and 6.4) (10+10)
– Feminist epistemology.
– Feminist Research.
Q. 3 How Buddhist teachings based on four noble truths guide the status of women in
their beliefs? (Consult reading 7.4 & 7.5) (20)
Q. 4 Discuss the rationale of women’s oppression according to socialist philosophers
Marx and Engles. (Consult reading 7.1 and 7.2). (20)
Q. 5 According to the Jewish and Christian Bibles the status of women is strongly
influenced by man? Discuss in light of readings 8.1 & 8.2. (20)
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